Relative strengths of the class 1 integron promoter hybrid 2 and the combinations of strong and hybrid 1 with an active P2 promoter

The relative strengths of the uncommon promoters hybrid 2, hybrid 1 with an active P2 promoter (hybrid 1+P2), and strong+P2, which drive transcription of resistance genes in class 1 integrons, were evaluated using blaGES-1 as a reporter gene cassette. Hybrid 2 was stronger than hybrid 1. Coupling P2 with the strong promoter and with hybrid 1 caused a measurable increase in GES-1 expression. Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved

Prevalent Mechanisms of Resistance among Common Enterobacterial Isolates in Greek Hospitals

The recent data concerning antibiotic resistance of the enterobacteria isolated in Greek hospitals are reviewed. A variety of mechanisms of resistance, clustered in most of the cases, was observed. Epidemics of plasmids were responsible for dissemination of third-generation cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, and trimethoprim resistance among Klebsiella pneumoniae and, to a lesser extent, Escherichia coli isolates. Stable derepression of the expression of chromosomal cephalosporinase is the main cause of resistance to third-generation cephalosporins observed at high frequencies in Enterobacter spp. strains. © 1995, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. All rights reserved

Effect of substitution of Asn for Arg-276 in the cefotaxime-hydrolyzing class A β-lactamase CTX-M-4

The effect of substitution of asparagine for arginine at position 276 (Ambler's numbering) on the properties of the extended-spectrum β-lactamase CTX-M-4 was studied. Compared with CTX-M-4, the mutant β-lactamase CTX-M-4(R276N) conferred lower levels of resistance to cefotaxime, ceftriaxone and aztreonam while the levels of resistance to penicillins and penicillin-inhibitor combinations were similar. Arg-276→Asn substitution rendered CTX-M-4 slightly less susceptible to inhibition by clavulanate and tazobactam. It also caused a three-fold reduction in the relative rate of hydrolysis of cefotaxime. These results indicate that Arg-276 in CTX-M-type β-lactamases may be implicated in hydrolysis of oxyimino-β-lactams; they do not, however, support the hypothesis that Arg-276 is the functional equivalent of Arg-244 found in other class A β-lactamases. Copyright (C) 1998 Federation of European Microbiological Societies

Plasmid-encoded ACC-4, an extended-spectrum cephalosporinase variant from Escherichia coli

ACC-4, an omega loop mutant (Val211→Gly) of the Hafnia alvei-derived cephalosporinase ACC-1, was encoded by an Escherichia coli plasmid. The genetic environment of blaACC-4 shared similarities with plasmidic regions carrying blaACC-1. Kinetics of β-lactam hydrolysis and levels of resistance to β-lactams showed that ACC-4 was more effective than ACC-1 against expanded-spectrum cephalosporins. Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved

Transferable class C β-lactamases in Escherichia coli strains isolated in Greek hospitals and characterization of two enzyme variants (LAT-3 and LAT-4) closely related to Citrobacter freundii AmpC β-lactamase

Among 2133 isolates of Escherichia coli obtained during 1996 from 10 Greek hospitals, 63 (3%) were resistant to cefoxitin. Typing by ERIC2-PCR indicated that the cefoxitin-resistant (FOX(r)) isolates were distinct. β-Lactamase studies and hybridization experiments showed that most strains produced β-lactamases related to the AmpC chromosomal cephalosporinase of Citrobacter freundii. The enzymes were encoded by similar non-self-transmissible plasmids. The bla genes encoding two β-lactamases (LAT-3 and LAT-4) with isoelectric points 8.9 and 9.4, respectively, were cloned and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequences displayed a high degree of homology (> 95%) with the AmpC β-lactamase of C. freundii. The patterns of resistance to β-lactams of the FOX(r) E. coli depended on the quantity of class C enzymes and the simultaneous expression of other β-lactamases. In a few isolates a 36 kDa outer-membrane protein, presumably a porin, was not expressed at detectable quantities. These isolates were resistant to cefoxitin, and their susceptibility to the other β-lactams tested was not significantly decreased

attI1-Located small open reading frames ORF-17 and ORF-11 in a class 1 integron affect expression of a gene cassette possessing a canonical shine-dalgarno sequence

By searching the Integrall integron and GenBank databases, a novel open reading frame (ORF) of 51 nucleotides (nts) (ORF-17) overlapping the previously described ORF-11 was identified within the attI1 site in virtually all class 1 integrons. Using a set of isogenic plasmid constructs carrying a single gene cassette (blaGES-1) and possessing a canonical translation initiation region, we found that ORF-17 contributes to GES-1 expression. © 2017 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved

Prevalence of the type I and type II DHFR genes in trimethoprim-resistant urinary isolates of escherichia coli from greece

Trimethoprim resistance in 64 Escherichia coli urinary isolates from five hospitals in Greece was studied. Of the 40 isolates exhibiting transferable high-level resistance (MIC > 1024 mg/L), 21 hybridized with a specific probe for dihydrofolate reduc-tase (DHFR) I, 13 with a probe for DHFR II, and one with a probe for DHFR V. Eleven isolates hybridized with a probe for transposon Tn7. Among the 17 isolates with non-transferable high-level resistance, seven hybridized with the probe for DHFR I, three with the probe for DHFR II, and eight were Tn7-positive. None of the seven isolates with low-level resistance (MIC 4-1024 mg/L) reacted with the probes used. Of the 28 isolates positive for DHFR I, 12 (43%) failed to hybridize with the Tn7 probe. Conversely, three isolates hybridized with the Tn7 probe, but not with the probe for DHFR I. Colony hybridization experiments showed that all but three transconjugants reacted similarly to their respective parent strains. The plasmids coding for trimethoprim-resistant DHFRs were found to differ on the basis of restriction enzyme analysis. These findings suggest that trimethoprim resistance among E. coli urinary isolates in Greece is mediated predominantly by heterogeneous transferable plasmids encoding either DHFR I or DHFR II. The dissociation between DHFR I and Tn7, together with the high incidence of trimethoprim-resistant isolates which did not hybridize with the probes for the common DHFR I or II types, indicates the continued evolution of trimethoprim resistance determinants. © 1993 The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy

Comparative biochemical and computational study of the role of naturally occurring mutations at ambler positions 104 and 170 in GES β-lactamases

In GES-type β-lactamases, positions 104 and 170 are occupied by Glu or Lys and by Gly, Asn, or Ser, respectively. Previous studies have indicated an important role of these amino acids in the interaction with β-lactams, although their precise role, especially that of residue 104, remains uncertain. In this study, we constructed GES-1 (Glu104, Gly170), GES-2 (Glu104, Asn170), GES-5 (Glu104, Ser170), GES-6 (Lys104, Ser170), GES-7 (Lys104, Gly170), and GES-13 (Lys104, Asn170) by site-specific mutagenesis and compared their hydrolytic properties. Isogenic comparisons of β-lactam resistance levels conferred by these GES variants were also performed. Data indicated the following patterns: (i) Lys104-containing enzymes exhibited enhanced hydrolysis of oxyimino-cephalosporins and reduced efficiency against imipenem in relation to enzymes possessing Glu104, (ii) Asn170-containing enzymes showed reduced hydrolysis rates of penicillins and older cephalosporins, (iii) Ser170 enabled GES to hydrolyze cefoxitin efficiently, and (iv) Asn170 and Ser170 increased the carbapenemase character of GES enzymes but reduced their activity against ceftazidime. Molecular dynamic simulations of GES apoenzyme models, as well as construction of GES structures complexed with cefoxitin and an achiral ceftazidime-like boronic acid, provided insights into the catalytic behavior of the studied mutants. There were indications that an increased stability of the hydrogen bonding network of Glu166-Lys73-Ser70 and an altered positioning of Trp105 correlated with the substrate spectra, especially with acylation of GES by imipenem. Furthermore, likely effects of Ser170 on GES interactions with cefoxitin and of Lys104 on interactions with oxyimino-cephalosporins were revealed. Overall, the data unveiled the importance of residues 104 and 170 in the function of GES enzymes. Copyright © 2010, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved

Escherichia coli with a self-transferable, multiresistant plasmid coding for metallo-β-lactamase VIM-1

An Escherichia coli strain exhibiting decreased susceptibility to carbapenems was isolated from a hospitalized patient in Greece. The strain carried a self-transferable plasmid coding for metallo-β-lactamase VIM-1. blaVLM-1, along with aacA7, dhfrI, and aadA, was included as a gene cassette in a novel class 1 integron. A Citrobacter freundii ampC-derived gene, not associated with the integron, was also located in the same plasmid